Rising To The Top

Many plant growth regulators (PGR) enter the market with a sharp learning curve, but Topflor, the newest PGR from SePRO Corp., is an exception. In addition to quick adoption for growers experienced with using PGRs, Topflor has a very wide product range. Its unique activity allows growers to control even the most vigorous varieties while providing proper control for slower-growing crops.

Topflor became available in March and contains the active ingredient flurprimidol, the newest PGR chemistry to be introduced to U.S. growers of containerized ornamentals in more than a decade. The chemistry has been used successfully by European growers for many years to produce very high quality plants, according to Shane Barney, marketing manager of turf and ornamental products for SePRO Corp.

Barney says Topflor’s uptake is more efficient than paclobutrazol, which results in lower application rates needed to achieve optimum results.

“Topflor is highly active through plant roots and stems, resulting in more uniform growth regulation and reduced flower delay versus other PGRs,” he says. “Topflor’s water solubility allows it to readily translocate through plants via the root system following a soil application, which leads to improved activity and lower use rates.”

Joining A-Rest in the pyrimidine chemical class, Topflor has many of the same positive attributes, but the two chemicals differ in their level of activity, Barney says. A-Rest is also a SePRO product.

“A-Rest is perfectly suited for sensitive crops like plugs and pansies, whereas Topflor has the strength of activity that makes it ideal for regulating vigorous plant species, such as petunias, impatiens and other finished crops,” he says.

Uptake efficiency via the root system, improved bloom time and quality are just a few of the advantages of Topflor, according to Barney.

“Growers have commented that crops treated with Topflor have been more consistent and come into flower up to one week sooner than those treated with their standard PGR,” he says.

Plants treated with Topflor boast dark green foliage and darker blooms, with less incidence of fading. Topflor has also proven to strengthen and tone plants, which reduces losses during shipping.

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Greenhouse Grower asked crop protection product manufacturers to send us the details for their 2017 Early Order Discount Programs and ongoing rebate programs, to provide you with a compiled knowledge resource of all discount offers at a time when you're making decisions for 2017.

The Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), is an independent, third-party, not-for-profit organization, is in the process of developing cannabis-specific standards for everything from cultivation and extraction to packaging and retail.